Rs 72-cr more for Bhopal gas victims

The Group of Ministers (GoM) looking into various issues related to the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy on Monday decided to change the site for disposal of toxic waste in Madhya Pradesh and announced an additional compensation of R 72 crore for those who died in the tragedy but were left out earlier.

“The toxic waste from the Union Carbide Company will not be disposed of at Pithampur. The government of Madhya Pradesh nd the Centre will hold discussion to decide on the alternative site,” state Urban Development Minister Babulal Gaur said after the meeting.

Gaur said the GoM also decided to sanction additional compensation of R 72 crore for those who died in the tragedy but were left out from the list earlier.

The GoM, headed by Home Minister P. Chidambaram met to assess the progress made since the group handed over its recommendations to the Union Cabinet three months ago.

“The meeting was mainly to review the progress made on the recommendations made by the GoM in June,” said a minister who attended the meeting.

In June, the Union Cabinet had accepted all the 22 recommendations of the GoM and decided to push for extradition of former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson.

The GoM had also decided to ascertain the liability of Dow Chemicals, the company which acquired Union Carbide in 1999. It had also announced a R 1,265 crore package for relief and remediation.